Yes, pretty essential unless one likes dripping stuff all over the stove and counter. I have two that are in rotation - one on stove, the other being washed or in cabinet.

Like the picture above, I use a flattened glass bottle as a spoon rest. It was a gift and wasn't really intended to be a spoon rest, but that's what it's become. I find it much easier to periodically give the spoon rest a wash than to wash the stovetop that often.

Spoon rests drive me crazy- I have an irrational hatred of them! If I'm cooking, I generally have a chopping board or prep bowl next to the sink, and since in my tiny kitchen "next to the sink" pretty much also means "next to the stove", I'll just use that to rest my spoon on. I always clean the counter after I cook, anyway- so I'm not bothered about spills or anything.

http://www.kitchenist.com/

I use glass bowls or ramekins for mise on place. Since they're always around, I just use them instead of a dedicated spoon stand.

fat fingered... I meant mise en place. :)

my mother makes these bottle spoon rests. she can make one out of a favorite bottle of wine or beer (ect.) with the labels still attached. they're fabulous!

i like spoonrests, mostly because how my kitchen is laid out. I do all the prep work next to the sink so I can just wipe into the sink to clean up. The stove is on the other side of the kitchen so i need something to set my stirring spoon on close at hand, then I dont have to wash the counter next to the stove, or the stove top as well after cooking.

Although I have to admit I have NEVER paid for a "spoon rest" and probably never will. I have just re purposed some odd shallow dishes and tiny plates that have turned up here and there. Which are nice because they take up no room at all in the dishwasher.

For the longest time I thought I needed one: then I bought one. And you know what? I never use it!
Maybe b/c it's not super pretty? I usually just rest my spoon elsewhere.

I also bought one of those little gadgets that hooks to the side of your pot and then you slide the spoon into it...and don't use it much either. Sigh.

the spoon sits on the cutting board, or the jar lid, or in the bowl i just had another ingredient in.

additionally -- the spoon rest sitting there in the MIDDLE of the stove? doesn't it get too hot there to be reaching in to grab a spoon, especially if you're using more than one burner and/or the oven?!

I wish there wsa a 'meh' option. I don't use spoon rests, but usually end up with the spoon at the bottom of the pan or gooing up the stove, so I probably should. My last kitchen was tiny and this one is bigger but not huge, so I'm not sure if I have room.

In the past I have used a small dish for resting my utensils on while cooking, but have recently started using 3"x3" ceramic tiles. Since you only need two or three tiles, you can go to any tile store and ask for samples. Most of the time you will be given a few tiles free of charge and there you have your spoon rests. Since they are ceramic they are perfect for resting on the top of your stove.

They're not hot, but they're sometimes necessary.

My old sloppy roomies used to plop dirty utensils down all over the countertop while cooking. I got a spoon rest and it did the trick. They didn't clean that either, but it at least condensed the space that I had to wipe up later :)

I use one all the time, in between the burners of my stove. It is a freestanding range with no counters next to it so the spoon rest helps me keep everything clean and my utensil within easy reach.

It's a simple ceramic one.

I really never use them. I'll just put my spoon or whatever on the pot lid, or balance it on the handle, or just dirty up the counter because it's just as easy to wipe down as to wash a spoon rest.

I do really like that flattened bottle though.

I have a really pretty Spanish hand-painted ceramic spoon rest that I always forget to use. Spoons always end up in whatever's handy.

Aww...I have a special place in my heart for spoon rests. They're so quaint. Right now, though, my "spoon rest" that always sits between burners is actually a small fish-shaped dish.

My husband and I searched everywhere for a spoon rest while on vacation in Central America. It was actually just before our wedding, and we both had this idea that owning a spoon rest was somehow this symbol of being a "real" adult, or something. We didn't know the word in Spanish for this at the time, so our search was tricky. We really wanted one painted in the fashion of all the beautiful architecture and artwork we'd seen on our vacation, but didn't manage to find even ONE until we were in the airport on our way home. We of course bought it, and now it reminds us of our sometimes hilarious search throughout several countries, and now it makes us laugh every time we use it, which is often.

My boyfriend is skillful at balancing the spoon on the handle & rim of the pot...then I come along and try to do that same skillful thing and drop the spoon 2 or 3 times so that it splatters all over the stove. Probably should have one, and have cooked (boiled water) in kitchens with spoon rests and they always seem so clever, and are the first place I put the spoon.

I absolutely refuse to pay for one though, unless it is from another country like OM83's (great story, btw). That would make it way cooler and worth purchasing. But in the meantime I like to use some odd saucer or small dish.

Hey, what is my mouth for if not to rest the spoon?

I'll skip 'em, thanks all the same. I just rest the spoon across the top of the pot. I never find they are that drippy.

I had a spoon rest and used it daily until it broke. I've since gone back to using a plate but I'll likely get one again when I see one while I'm shopping.

I love my spoon rest, and I love the green bottle one even more.

i have this recycled bottle, an im using this as private cheese servers, looks much better that way.

I love my wittle spoon rest! It's basically a small ceramic square with curved up edges to keep the mess contained. I mean, I'm sure you can assign any little plate to do the same job. But MINE says "PLACE SPOON HERE" in giant black letters. Which makes easy directions for my cooking-impaired boyfriend. It's Always on my counter and knows its job! No looking for a paper towel or plate or glass at the last minute. I just automatically know where to put my messy utensils no matter how harried i am to get dinner on.
i also use it for teeny scraps i need out of the way in a jiff, like little discarded nubs of veggie-butts or garlic peels.

I use the same chef Mickey Mouse spoonrest we've had at the kitchen since I was born. I think my mom and grandmother got it the first time they went to Disney World tons of years back. My mom hated it so it migrated to my kitchen.

a spoon rest makes a nice (if bland) hostess gift, particularly if paired with a lovely wooden spoon.

I use my gift spoon rest every day.

We hosted an exchange student who brought us one from Spain. I never use it but keep it as a reminder of a special July. Carolina, are you out there?

jmorri26... I'm waiting to get a Mickey hand from Disneyland! It's neat you have spoon rest passed down through the family. I wonder if it's a similar style.